Riverside: Student Government

The first move toward student government at Riverside
began with an organized meeting of the entire student body of 127
members on February 16, 1954. A provisional charter containing minimum
articles for government was presented to the student body and adopted
at that time. The original Executive Council as both the legislative
and executive branch of student government and consisted of four
elected officers, the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer;
and two representatives from the freshman, sophomore and junior
classes. As of the mid-1960's, the Executive Council had not undergone
any major reorganization since its inception, expanding only to
meet the needs of a growing student body. Over the years functional
and representative members were added to the council.

The council directed a balanced program of social,
recreational, cultural and educational activities which were made
to available to the entire student body. It subsidized five student
publications and in 1965 was involved in establishing KUCR, a campus
FM radio station. The council played a major role in supporting
the growth of social, service, academic and special interest clubs.
It recognized these groups as a part of the student government,
and when appropriate and necessary, subsidized program to help them
begin and to maintain themselves as an active part of University
life.